Apparatus for lasting shoes



Nov. 7, 1939. J. M. ROHRER APPARATUS FOR LASTING SHOES Filed Oct. 10, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQZ: John Mi H'on Eohrer,

NOV. 7, 1939. J RQHRER 2,178,609

APPARATUS FOR LASTING SHOES Filed Oct 10, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3-

INVENTOl NOV. 7, 1939. J ROHRER 2,178,609

APPARATUS FOR LASTING SHOES INVEMTOE:

John MiHon Eohrcr,

Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFME 9 Claims.

This application is for the same subject-matter as my application for patent filed October 31, 1931, Serial No. 572,342, which was allowed, and which was forfeited.

My invention relates to the manufacture of shoes, slippers, and similar articles of foot wear, and comprises an improved method of process, and means for carrying out such process, whereby I am enabled to position and secure a lasted upper in a sectional mold adapted to receive and support such lasted upper while other operations in the completion of such shoe, slipper or other article of foot wear may be carried out.

In carrying out my present invention I provide means including a sectional mold for receiving the lasted upper from a pulling-over device; a support or table in which such mold may be removably or permanently placed; means for closing the sections of the mold around the last and upper whereby the latter may be held in the pulled over condition and additionally retaining the mold in the closed condition, and means for releasing the mold-closing means in order that the mold may open or be opened for the reception of a lasted shoe, slipper, or the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide the sectional mold with gripping sections of different shape or type, and arrange that such sections may engage the lasted upper in timed relation so that an initial grip may be imparted to one portion of the lasted upper, the sides or instep portion for instance, before the other sections engage the upper; the means for releasing the sections of such mold acting in similar timed relation so that the sections first engaging are the last to be disengaged.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a support or table to serve as a temporary or permanent support for the sectional mold, with means carried by such table or support for closing the sections of the same so that they may be readily actuated to grip the last and pulled-over upper in the relation produced by the pulling-over operation; the portable carrier employed in such pulling-over operation (that shown and described in my application filed October 9, 1930, Serial No. 487,535, or that of my prior application filed September 29, 1931, Serial No. 565,815, for instance), being released from the lasted upper only after the mold sections have tightly gripped the same.

These and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, more or less diagrammatic in character, in which:

Figure 1-is a view in elevation, partly broken away, of a sectional mold structure for receiving lasted uppers within the scope of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the mold structure, taken on the line III-III, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of apparatus which may be employed to support the mold and clamp the sections of the same to the lasted upper; the mold being shown in section with a lasted upper in place.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, taken on the line VV thereof and Figs. 6, '7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are views illustrating details of the structure embodying my invention.

My improved sectional mold element is shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and it may be detachably or fixedly mounted in or on a table I l and, if desired, it may be seated in a reoess H formed in such table.

This mold element may comprise a base member l 2, having a plurality of engaging or gripping portions l3, pivotally connected to such base as indicated at 13 The upper portions of the gripping members have an internal contour like that of the last and positioned upper to be engaged thereby. In practice I have employed a mold having nine gripping portions or elements; two for the heel portion, one each for the sides, and five for the toe portion of the lasted upper, all as more clearly illustrated in the plan view, Fig. 2. These gripping portions may swing outwardly upon their pivotal connections l3 when the clamping means hereinafter described are released; the extent of such outward movement being limited by the headed pins M which pass through apertures or slots I l formed in said sections and into the base member l2; such slots or apertures being of a size to permit the desired freedom of movement with respect to said pins. When the sectional mold is in the open position it is ready to receive the lasted upper carried by the portable holder disclosed in my companion applications referred to, and the operator inverts this holder and presents it to the open sectional mold; the relative position of the last and positioned upper within the mold being illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

The sectional mold is normally in the closed position, as illustrated by full lines, Figs. 3 and 4; being held in such position by means of clamping levers l5 pivoted at W to a collar H5 or to ears 16 secured to such collar, and the latter may be fixed to a central standard or support I! for the table ll. Arranged above said collar i6 is a sliding collar I8, connected by rods if to suitable treadle mechanism which may comprise a foot lever 25!, counterbalanced by a weight 28 which normally serves to maintain the foot lever in the raised position. The levers iii are connected to the sliding collar 18 by links 2! which may be pivotally connected to cars 18 carried by said collar, and when the foot lever is depressed the rods is are lowered and these links tend to straighten with the result that the levers it are moved outwardly away from the sectional mold.

To keep the upper ends of these levers in engagement with the sectional mold to hold the same in the closed position springs 25 are provided; such springs being carried by stems 26 having yoked ends 25 pivotally connected to the levers 5. The stems 26 pass through brackets ill carried by the under side of the table and the springs 25 are interposed between these brackets and adjustable nuts 28 carried by said stems 26 adjacent to the yoke members. The tension of the springs may be controlled by the nuts 28, and the expansive force of such springs, which are quite heavy, serves to cause the levers ill to tightly clamp the sections of the mold in the closed position when the sliding collar i8 is in the raised position.

The levers F5 are so arranged relatively to the sections of the mold, inasmuch as their throw is difierent for the respective sections, that the; are engaged and disengaged substantially simultaneously; the connecting links M being longitudinally adjustable to compensate for any difierences in the length of movement. To permit the sections of the mold to open, the clamping levers are withdrawn from their engagement with the same and this may be eiiected by depressing the foot lever 20. This action lowers the sliding collar [8; the links 2! pivotal y connected to such collar tend to straighten out and push levers away from the mold sections and against the springs 25; the latter being compressed by such action. When the lasted upper is introduced into the open mold from the pulling-over device, the foot lever 28 is released and the levers l5 are automatically moved by the springs into engagement with the mold sections; tightly closing the same upon the lasted upper disposed therein.

In this connection, an important feature of my invention resides in the fact that the gripping portions of the sections at the side of the mold are provided with inwardly projecting portions l3 which overlie the instep portion of the lasted upper so as to tightly grip such portion of the upper to the last. These side sections are so arranged and coordinated with the lever mechanism serving to close the sections, as to be moved by the levers into engagement with the lasted upper ahead of the other sections, thereby insuring initially a tight grip upon the upper at such instep portion and facilitating the molding of the upper to the last. When the sections of the mold are released, these side sections will be released last. These desired results may be effected by forming slots 21 in the stem portions of certain of the links 2| which connect the levers l5 with the ears I 8 of the sliding collar l8, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7; such stem portions being connected to said ears by pivot pins I8 and being adjustable with respect to the yoke portions thereof pivotally connected to the clamping levers l5. It will be seen therefore that the movement imparted to the slotted links through the pivot pins l8 will be delayed when the collar [8 is lowered; such delay being overcome before the collar reaches the limit of its downward movement so that while the release of the clamping levers engaging the side sections of the mold over the instep of the lasted upper is late it will, nevertheless, be in time to insure full opening of the several mold sections to permit removal of the lasted upper when such action is desired. In like manner, when a lasted upper is to be initially fitted in and engaged by the sectional mold these side sections will move in first as the sliding collar l8 controlling the out Ward and releasing movement action of the clamping levers raises upon release of the treadle.

After the portable holding device constituting the pulling-over means has been released upon clamping the lasted upper in the sectional mold, such upper is in position to have the projecting portion at of the same laid down and/0r wiped and secured to an insole carried by the last; ready for subsequent operations in the making of a shoe or other article of foot wear from such lasted upper.

It will be understood, of course, that different sized shoes will require different sized mold contours. In some instances the molds may be of one size with interior contours of different size in case it may be desirable to have all of the sectional molds of the same size externally in order that no changes in size need be made in other parts of the associated or cooperating mechanism, and in order that such molds may successively fit the recess in the table or support II when such recess is employed. In other instances it may be desirable to have smaller molds of the sectional type.

In order that the clamping levers may be arranged to engage difierent sized molds, that is to say, molds of different length, without changing the extent of movement of the clamping levers as determined by their link connections with the sliding collar E8, or altering the pressure exerted by the springs 25 so that with the same adjustment of said links and springs the several sections of the mold may be held against the lasted upper with the same force and effect, I provide for the mounting of extension members upon certain of said clamping levers, as illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11.

The clamping levers receiving these extension members are preferably made shorter; such extensions having side portions which are secured to the levers adjacent the ends of the same in such position as to engage the mold sections in proper relation. In such arrangement the levers which engage the heel sections of the mold for instance may be provided with the extension members, although it will be understood that such extension members may be applied to all of the clamping levers if the size or shape of the mold requires their use.

In Figs. 8 and 9, I have shown plan views of molds differing in length, with the several clamping levers in contacting relation therewith; Fig. 8 showing a mold of one size, and Fig. 9 a shorter mold. The levers at the heel portion of the mold are indicated at 15 and are shown in detail in Figs. 10 and 11. These levers do not directly engage the mold sections, but are provided with extensions which may be detachably secured to the same by screws, bolts or the like. of such extensions does away with the necessity of altering the extent of movement of the clamping levers to and from clamping position. In Fig. 8 I have shown a mold which, for illustrative purposes, may be designated as the larger The use of a group of sectional molds in use.

The clamping levers I5 in such instance are shown as provided with extension members which engage the mold sections in proper relative position; preferably centrally of such sections. These extensions may include a portion 30 fitting against the main lever and secured thereto, and a portion 30 substantially continuous with the latter and terminating in the engaging end 30.

shorter sectional mold, and in such instance the extension member carried by the clamping lever must be of a character that will engage a heel section of the shorter mold in the proper relative position; centrally thereof, for instance. This extension member, which is shown in Figs. 9 and 11, comprises a member 3! fitting against the side of the lever l5 laterally thereof, to which it may be secured by bolts or screws or other suitable fastenings, with a forward proje'ction or bill 3N which will occupy substantially the position of the engaging portion 30 of the extension member 30 shown in Figs. 8 and 10.

The mold sections may have the contour portions at the upper ends of the same as separate elements or members, properly secured thereto in any approved manner, and such contour portions are preferably faced with suitable material to provide a proper seat for the upper positioned on the last and disposed in contact therewith.

. For this purpose, leather facings may be secured to these contour portions of the mold sections, or elastic facings may be employed. These contour members may be of any suitable material properly available for the purpose; metal, hard fibre, rubber, or other material that will retain its shape and properly grip the upper positioned on a last. Such contour portions may be formed by casting or pouring suitable self-hardening material in a proper support, which may be one of the sectional molds, around a finished shoe or pattern whose size and shape is to be reproduced; such cast or poured material being subsequently cut or otherwise separated into individual contour sections which are then secured to the inner portion of the upper ends of the mold sections in proper order.

The contour portions may be permanently secured to the mold sections, or they may be detachably secured thereto so as to render it possible to shift sets of contour portions with respect to sets of sectional molds when changes in style or size of shoe becomes necessary. In any event the contour portions, even when their connection with the mold sections is substantially permanent, may be displaced or removed from the mold sections to permit the development of other contours when styles change, or for any other reason.

The sectional mold may be provided internally with supports 32 and 33, which may be adjustable, upon which the last carrying the upper may rest when it is initially deposited from the pullingover device and before the mold sections are clamped around the same.

It will be understood, of course, that modifications may be made in the sectional mold structures and in the cooperating mechanism hereinabove described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, hence the appended claims are intended to cover the sectional mold and the cooperating mechanism disclosed and the method of operation which may be carried out with their use and such modifications thereof as would be naturally suggested by the employment of such means in carrying out the several steps of such method.

I claim:

1. In a sectional mold for supporting a lasted upper, the combination of a plurality of pivotally mounted sections forming such mold, last conforming shoulders carried by said sections and together forming the outer contour. of the lasted upper; certain of the last-conforming shoulders at the sides of the mold having portions overlying the instep of the lasted upper, means for holding said several sections in closed position around a lasted upper including pivotally mounted clamping levers, means for releasing said clamping members whereby the sections of the mold may be opened, and means whereby said side sections having the shoulders engaging the instep portion of the lasted upper may move to closing position in advance of the other sections; said latter means including slotted links operatively connecting said clamping levers to their actuating means and providing for lost motion between said clamping levers and their actuating means.

2. The combination with a sectional mold for receiving a lasted upper, of a series of clamping levers for holding the sections of such mold to the lasted upper, springs for maintaining said levers x30 in clamping position, a fixed support to which one end of each of said levers is pivoted, a vertically sliding member, adjustable links connecting said clamping levers to said sliding member above their pivotal connections, and means for lowering said sliding member whereby the links may efiect outward movement of the clamping levers against the pressure exerted by said springs; the latter serving to move the levers to clamping position when the sliding member rises after the means for lowering it have been released.

3. The combination with a sectional mold for receiving a lasted upper, of a series of pivotally mounted clamping levers for holding the sections of said mold against the lasted upper, springs for maintaining said levers in clamping position, a fixed support to which one end of each of the clamping levers is pivoted, a vertically sliding member, adjustable links connecting said clamping levers to said sliding member; certain of said links being slotted whereby lost motion is provided for between the sliding member and the clamping levers connected to said slotted links, and means for lowering said sliding member; such action tending to straighten the links and cause the clamping levers to move away from their engagement with the mold sections and compress the springs; said sliding member upon release of its lowering means being automatically raised by the springs and the clamping levers connected to the slotted links moving into engagement with certain mold sections in advance of the other clamping levers.

4. In means for the manufacture of shoes, the combination with a sectional mold for holding an upper in lasted condition comprising a plurality of separately mounted mold members having their upper portions shaped to engage a portion of the lasted upper and collectively conform to the same at or adjacent to the sole portion thereof, a base, and separated hinged connections between said base and each of said mold members, of independently operable pivotally mounted elements for separately holding said mold members in clamping position against the lasted upper,

means for releasing said clamping elements; certain of the latter operating in advance of others, and means for limiting outward movement of the mold members when the elements holding them in clamping position have been released.

5. In apparatus for the manufacture of shoes, the combination with a sectional mold for the reception of a last and positioned upper mounted thereon comprising a portable base member, a plurality of mold elements separately hinged to said base member and movable to an open position to receive the last and the upper positioned thereon and means disposed adjacent to their hinged connections for limiting outward movement of said mold elements, of independently operable pivotally mounted elements separately engaging said mold elements to clamp the same around the lasted upper; certain of said clamping elements operating in advance of others, and means for releasing said clamping members.

6. The combination with a mold supporting an upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; said mold comprising a plurality of movable sections which closely fit the lasted upper when in closed condition, of a plurality of pivotally mounted levers engaging the sections of said mold; detachable extension pieces carried by the engaging ends of said levers, springs for holding said levers in the clamping position, means for releasing the tension of said springs to permit release of the clamping levers, and means for coordinating the movement of said clamping levers and their operating means whereby an equal pressure may be applied thereby to the several sections of the mold.

7. The combination with a sectional mold supporting an upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; said mold comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted sections which together fit the lasted upper when in closed condition and including last-conforming shoulders forming the outer contour of the lasted upper, means for holding the several sections of the mold in closed position around a lasted upper including pivotally mounted clamping members, certain of last-conforming shoulders at the sides of the mold having portions overlying the instep of the lasted upper, means for releasing said clamping members whereby the sections of the mold may be opened, and means whereby said side sections having the shoulders engaging the instep portion of the lasted upper may move to closing position in advance of the other sections including slotted link connections for the clamping members.

8. Apparatus for lasting shoes, comprising a sectional mold receiving the lasted upper in pulled-over and stretched condition; the sections of said mold being pivotally mounted, clamping members for holding the sections in last-engaging position; each section being engaged by a separate clamping member, means for operating said clamping members, and means for coordinating the movement of said clamping members wherein certain of the mold sections may be moved to closing position in advance of other mold sections.

9. In apparatus for the manufacture of shoes, the combination with a sectional mold comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted sections having engaging parts shaped to conform to a shoe at or adjacent to the sole portion of the same and a base to which said sections are separately hinged, of clamping levers for separately holding said mold sections in closed position, detachable ex-l tension pieces carried by the engaging ends of said clamping levers, and means for operating said clamping levers.

J OHN MILTON ROHRER. 

